Send tips/talk to abner@9to5mac.com or @technacity (open DMs).
Abner Li has worked at 9to5Google since 2015 and in late 2020 took on the role of editor-in-chief. He is keenly focused on tracking what happens at Google, and is often the first to spot new features in Google’s ever-growing family of applications that are updated on a daily basis, including Search, Assistant, Maps, Workspace, Android, Chrome/OS, Wear OS, and YouTube Music.
To him, what Google does greatly impacts the technology space and modern life. Inside the company, he is particularly interested in the key products mentioned above, as well as services like Google Podcasts and Google Lens. Each are massive platforms that can be unwieldy to grasp, with Abner keenly bent on understanding their philosophy and future direction. He is most excited about Google’s plans for augmented reality glasses.
Abner spearheads the APK Insight program at 9to5Google to chronicle all changes in the company’s Android apps, often finding new features before they are officially announced. This includes redesigns and revamps, launches, and new products.
A big area of interest is Google’s hardware division, including Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. He detailed all of the Pixel 3’s camera features before launch and scooped the 2nd-generation Nest Hub’s Soli-powered Sleep Sensing capability, including how it would integrate with Google Fit.
Recently, Abner detailed the Pixel Watch’s specs in full before launch, including bands and pricing. He also got wind of the Pixel Tablet’s ultimate form factor.
Google Play today is “providing guidance to help developers enhance the quality and safety of AI-powered apps” as adoption of those technologies increase, with increased testing being top of mind.
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After initially appearing for some in February, the new set of Google Weather icons are now widely available in At a Glance and the Pixel Weather widgets.
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During the Google Store summer sale, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro buyers can get four months of Google One AI Premium for free.
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Back in December, Google announced that Maps Location History would soon be stored on your phone instead of the cloud. This change to the Google Maps Timeline is continuing to roll out, and will see the deprecation of Your Timeline on the web.
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Google has acquired Cameyo to encourage enterprise adoption of ChromeOS by making it easy to run legacy Windows apps.
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Following the last country/language expansion at the end of April, Google’s Gemini app for Android and iOS is now coming to the UK and Europe.
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After updating to the latest beta version of Google Maps, some Android Auto users are having issues with mapping in their cars.
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After introducing in 2022, Google Messages for Android has removed a “Nudges” capability that provided reply and birthday reminders.
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This is the least important part of Fitbit’s absorption into Google — seriously, where is the dark theme — but I hope its logo and brand identity survives. I’m specifically referring to the arrow logo comprised of dots, lowercase “fitbit” wordmark, and soothing green/teal color palette.
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Following the announcement last week, Google Home 3.18 with the new Favorites widgets is widely rolling out via the Play Store.
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With VPN by Google One shutting down starting June 20, Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, and Fold owners are starting to see their intended replacement go live.
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Following the last patch two weeks ago, Google is rolling out Android 15 Beta 2.2 with several Pixel fixes. Private space should now be fully working, while this update also addresses Wallet/NFC issues.
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While Search Labs is most closely associated with generative AI, Google also uses it to test other features, with the latest being “Auto Dark Mode” on the iPhone.
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As part of its summer sale, the US Google Store is offering boosted trade-in values for the Pixel 6/7 Pro when purchasing the Pixel 8 Pro.
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The US Google Store is kicking off a summer sale today across Pixel phones, Tablet, and Watch. These offers end June 22, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
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In recent months, Google One has undergone a number of changes from the addition of the AI Premium tier to paid Google Photos tools going free and the upcoming VPN removal on June 20. Google One might have quietly made another change in regards to additional or elevated support.
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After being photographed, the leaked Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL have now been subjected to preliminary benchmarks, while we now have details on the Tensor G4.
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Back in April, YouTube Music rolled out a new Cast menu and Google is now starting to address the lack of a “Disconnect” button.
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Welcome to the twelfth episode of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about the Fitbit Ace LTE, Chromebook Plus, and Find My Device trackers.
The Cast menu redesign that first launched in YouTube Music is now rolling out to the main YouTube app on Android and iOS…
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Pixie first came to light in December. The Information revealed the existence of an AI assistant that will be exclusive to Google’s Pixel devices.
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The YouTube Music website now behaves more like the Android and iOS apps by remembering the last played song to let you quickly resume.
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Google already surfaces air quality in a number of ways, and it’s now being added to the Weather card in Search results.
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In terms of retail availability, Google is doing something slightly different with the Fitbit Ace LTE at Amazon and its first-party store.
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